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I agree with this, especially as it comprises part of what I meant in my above comment regarding "question-begging." Basically, a lot of the "problems" for Houston are "taken for granted/as a given" without any attempt to support the arguments. Then, the (often sound) dissent is always shouted down as "delusional," "not-well-travelled," or other such attempts at affirming-the-consequent condescention. For instance, as you allude to, biodiversity is known to be maximized with both warmth and wetness, which the coastal South (including Houston) has in spades compared to much of the land north (colder in winter), or west (largely more arid). There is great agricultural, cultivational, horticultural, silvicultural, etc oppurtunities to be enjoyed, especially in accordance to the subtropical Deep South aesthetic (palmettos, evergreen oaks and magnolias, thick spanish moss, etc). All of that provides solid counterpoints regarding why the "consensus" (unscientific) of Houston's "inferior outdoor oppurtunities, aesthetics, etc" can't be taken for given.

The problem with these articles (and many of the discussions that emanate from them across the various threads) is that they always devolve into hierachial presups, and other contrivances related to the religious reification of cities as if they were sentient entities. Must be why there's often the typical laudry list of unsupported circularity (begging the question, affirming the consequent, etc), fact-value gaps (is/ought-naturalistic, just-world errors, often backed by ad populum), etc. The end product? People always making these non-cognitive, (Dunning-Krugered)confident assertions of "what Houston is" (as if some fixed, unchanging entity) as well as "what the world thinks of Houston" (which is impossible to be certain of). That said, I will say that the vast majority of problems of this sort are solved simply by greater urbanization of the city: abolishment of minimim parking, setbacks, etc that allow the true potential of "no zoning" to be unleashed. The urban environment will take the city's already existing food, culture, arts, iconic scenes, etc and elevate them into the palpaple entities sought after by the "creative-class" types that tend to create these articles/pass these judgements of Houston. On another note, it's interesting to see how "cool and hip" tech, media, associated venture capital. etc were even as recent as 2014, contrasted with the more cynical "late stage capitalism" outlooks recently regarding ALL corporations (regardless of "boring O&G" or "flashy tech/media"). It really does seem

@hindeskyhas some bayou photos in another thread from the regatta that look quite nice. Not to mention the sheer density the townhomes are adding (though their pedestrian-friendliness is up for debate).

It seems to me that the Burnett area around San Jacinto Monument, or even the Braes/Buffalo confluence around Brady's Island/Harrisburg, would have been much better siting regarding the intesity of development that we now see from Houston. The Allen's Landing location seemed fine in the past when the city was much smaller and low intensity. But now? The heavy skyscrapers and freeways just seem so overhwelming for how narrow the bayou is farther west. I think the intensity of development and resultant alterations in run off ecology leads to far less days of clearer bayou water as depicted in @hindesky's post above. Take, for instance, the Brazos River southwest of Houston: that is a much larger watershed across the state, and a much stronger/faster current, so I'd expect stronger sediment suspension naturally. In contrast, the slower, gentler Buffalo Bayou would lead to less energy for sediment suspension, so the water was probably clearer until changes in runoff from Houston's sheer growth: I would imagine that the bayou was consistently clearer in the past, either blue-green like those photos above in open areas, or stain-glass tea-colored "blackwater" when through thicker forested areas like around Memorial (due to tannins from pines and other such trees).

🙃 yep I see it now. Looks like my age has gotten to me — the movie came out over two decades prior to my birth. There are some old movies that I watched, but apart from the scene with the "witch trial/duck", I've never seen Monty Python. "... but if those buildings float in water, then they weight the same as a duck. If those buildings weigh the same as a duck, then they are made of wood. The buildings weigh the same as a duck. Therefore..."

Perhaps, though it depends on which sections they specifically made those earlier attempts. This "East River" section is larger/more riparian compared to the bayou sections west of downtown: so it should have better handle regarding any flood waters. As mentioned before, I am looking forward to seeing how this development goes, as it can set good precedent. I remember reading a document a few years back regarding the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, how their plans for revitalization went as far east (so far) as "Constitution Bend" (i.e. Magnolia Park neighborhood).

TMC3 = TM cubed.

The lack of "bayoufront' development was a huge missed opportunity regarding the growth of Houston through the years. So I'm definitely looking forward to this project (and any precedent it sets).